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Link to information about Allen Nyoshin Steir or Mallie Boman
bamboo & bone

p.o. box 720831
new york, new york
usa 11372-0831

bambooandbone@cs.com

 

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Elizabeth Narumi

BAMBOO & BONE
presents
MONA LISA, BUDDHA AND ME
FUSING THEATRE, POETRY AND SHAKUHACHI

A Solo Show for Two
Created and Performed by
Performance Poet, Mallie Boman
Shakuhachi Master, Allen Nyoshin Steir
Directed By Sue Lawless
Original Music By Allen Steir and Joel Goodman

Mona Lisa, Buddha and Me is a unique and provocative fusion of dramatized mono-poems and music of the Shakuhachi, a Japanese bamboo flute. An entertaining and enlightening theatre experience, Mona Lisa, Buddha and Me incorporates original, modern and traditional Zen meditation music, venturing into mythic and real landscapes.

Mona Lisa, Buddha and Me was written and is performed by theatre artist/poet, Mallie Boman and shakuhachi master, Allen Nyoshin Steir. These two distinguished artists have joined forces to engage their audience in a truly mesmerizing and mystical journey.

Premiering at the First NY International Fringe Festival in 1997, Bamboo & Bone's Mona Lisa, Buddha and Me has since been featured in NYC at La Mama Galleria, Knitting Factory, Centerfold Theater, and The Vault. Across the country, it has been performed at the World Shakuhachi Festival in Boulder, Colorado and Albany Center Galleries in New York; in Canada at Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver and the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival.  More recently, Bamboo & Bone was in-residence in Wisconsin, performing for the Frank Lloyd Wright Fellowship at Taliesin and at The Chapel in Spring Green.

In 1999, Bamboo & Bone won The Vault's "Fear No Art Award" for Best Original Self-Produced Show. (Information on other awards). Mona Lisa, Buddha and Me is currently being translated into Japanese by actress Kana Kubota for an Asian tour next summer.

Ms. Boman and Mr. Steir began working together in 1993 on the touring companies of The Crane Wife, and The People Could Fly, adapted and directed by Ms. Boman.

A renaissance theatre artist and poet, Mallie Boman, has created her distinctive work in the US, Canada and Japan.  She has performed and directed classical, modern and musical theatre, films, television, radio and tape.

Ms. Boman founded the Firehall Theatre and Actors' Workshop in Vancouver, Canada.   In New York City, where she now lives, Ms. Boman created InCollaboration, Inc., Readers Theatre Workshop, the critically acclaimed multicultural touring story theatre company, which encourages young people to read.  In Japan, she directed A National Treasure, a documentary on director, Tadashi Suzuki.

Allen Nyoshin Steir is one of only six ShiHan Masters in North America. He was given the performing name Nyoshin which means, "The essence of heart and soul." Grandmaster and teacher, Yoshio Kurahashi from Kyoto, Japan, called Mr. Steir "the most impressive shakuhachi player in New York."

Mr. Steir has performed as a soloist and a member of Japanese classical trio ensembles.  He is a founding member of the NY Ongaku Shudan.  He has performed as a guest artist with the NY Gaga-ku Imperial Orchestra, and the Inoue Ensemble. Mr. Steir has composed and played original scores for several theatre productions. His first album, Castles in the Sky, is entirely Honkyoku (traditional Zen meditation music) and was released in 1996.

Mona Lisa, Buddha and Me is directed by Broadway veteran Sue Lawless, who has directed over 400 plays and musicals in a career which spans 40 years. Additional music is composed by Cine Golden Eagle Award winner, Joel Goodman. Mr. Goodman has composed for movie scores and many recording artists.

Read excerpts from reviews of Mona Lisa, Buddha and Me.
A look at the show.
Book the show
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